TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Populi Center researcher, Jefri Ardiansyah, argues that Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan is guilty of politicizing the floods on new year’s day to gain better electability rather than providing a concrete argument on flood management.

Jefri highlighted Anies’ lack of mentioning rational solutions to overcome the floods such as establishing lakes, reservoirs, or even the governor’s river naturalization program.

“He was preoccupied in answering netizens’ complaints and [addressing] statements that he deemed politically disadvantageous. But in actuality, it is Anies himself who has politicized the floods,” said Jefri on Wednesday, January 15.

Jefri noted Anies Baswedan’s tendency to talk about how children are enjoying the floods and the governor’s recent suggestion to implement an early flood warning system that uses sirens or people roaming residential areas with loudspeakers.

He argues that the governor should have heavily discussed the city’s plans to construct lakes and update the city’s flood pumps. “Anies Baswedan is stuck in populism exclusivity even though the 2024 presidential election is still far ahead,” said the Populi Center researcher.

ANTARA